Daily Readings - Thu Nov 30 2023
Romans
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Matthew
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear about the call to faith and the call to follow Jesus. The first reading from Romans emphasizes the importance of confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the resurrection as the foundation of salvation. Paul reminds us that faith comes from hearing the Word of God, and he laments that not all have heard or believed. He quotes Isaiah to highlight the mystery of unbelief but also affirms that God’s Word has been proclaimed to all, even to the ends of the earth. The Gospel, from Matthew, shows us the practical response to this call. Jesus encounters Peter, Andrew, James, and John, and with a simple invitation, they leave everything behind to follow him. Their immediate and wholehearted response is a model for us all.
The connection between these readings is clear: faith and discipleship are inseparable. In Romans, we see the necessity of hearing and believing the Gospel, while in Matthew, we see the radical obedience that flows from true faith. The first reading reminds us that God’s Word is universal, accessible to all, and that salvation is offered freely to everyone. The Gospel, however, challenges us to respond with the same urgency and trust as the first disciples. Their willingness to leave behind their nets and their livelihoods shows us that following Jesus requires sacrifice and surrender.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I responding to the call of Jesus in my own life? Do I hear his Word and truly believe it, or do I allow doubt or fear to hold me back? The disciples in today’s Gospel didn’t have all the answers, but they trusted in Jesus enough to take the first step. For us, this might mean being more open to God’s will, sharing our faith with others, or letting go of something that hinders our relationship with him. The moral lesson is clear: faith without action is incomplete, and discipleship requires a willingness to follow, even when the path is uncertain. Let us pray for the courage to hear God’s Word, to believe it deeply, and to follow him without hesitation.